GB1373886A - Control unit for vehicle and dashboard incorporating same - Google Patents

Abstract

1373886 Motor vehicle SOC ANON AUTOMOBILES CITROEN 27 Nov 1972 [6 Dec 1971] 54768/72 Heading B7H A motor vehicle control unit 1 which includes at least two control members which require little or no movement for their actuation, e.g. a switch 2 for controlling the direction indicators of the vehicle and a horn push button 6, is disposed behind the steering wheel 3, the disposition of the switches 2, 6 on the control unit 1 being such that they can be easily reached by the driver without having to remove his hand from the steering wheel 3 (see Fig. 7), and are easily distinguished so that the wrong switch is not actuated. The switches 2 and 6 have actuating surfaces 2a and 6a and centres 2b and 6b respectively. The planes passing through the centres 2b, 6b of the switches and through the axis 4 of the steering column 5 includes an angle 12-14-13 when projected on a plane perpendicular to the axis 4. The planes perpendicular to the actuating surfaces 2a, 6a and parallel to the axis 4 intersect along an axis I and include an angle 12-11-13. According to the invention the angle 12-11-13 is greater than the angle 12-14-13 and axes I and 4 both lie on the same side of the plane parallel to the axis and containing the centres 2a, 6b of the switches, i.e. when projected the points 11, 14 both lie on the same side of the line 12-13. A third control member or switch (not shown), may be disposed adjacent the switch 2 provided that the third switch satisfies the above criteria in relation to the switch 6. The switches 2, 6 are also disposed at different distances D, d from the steering wheel as shown in Fig. 7. The control unit 1 may be mounted on a slide 21, its distance from the steering wheel 3 being adjusted by screw 23. Alternatively two control units 1 may be mounted on a dash board 35 (Fig. 12), whose inclination is adjustable by screw 40. The dash board 35 includes petrol gauge 35a, speedometer 35b, tachometer 35c and clock 35d. The switches mounted on the control units 1 may include horn, direction indicator, windscreen washer, window raiser, radio and like switches. Warning lights indicating the actuation of certain switches may also be mounted on the inner faces of the control units. The switches are of the type which require little movement for actuation, e.g. rocker switches, or no movement, e.g. capacitive switch members.